Patient satisfaction with pharmaceutical care: update of a validated instrument.

Objective: To develop a questionnaire for measuring patient satisfaction with pharmaceutical care and to establish its factorial composition.

Design: Single intervention, noncomparative, 20-item self-administered questionnaire.

Setting: Iowa.

Increased vascular endothelial growth factor expression in human hearts with microvascular fibrin.

We have shown that microvascular changes that promote fibrin deposition in human cardiac allografts adversely affect clinical outcome. However, some allografts exhibit phenotypic changes in capillaries following the deposition of fibrin, which subsequently provide a significant survival advantage. The mechanism(s) involved in these capillary changes is(are) unknown.

Simultaneous analysis of dextran-methylprednisolone succinate, methylprednisolone succinate, and methylprednisolone by size-exclusion chromatography.

An analytical HPLC method is reported for simultaneous measurement of low (1.0-100 microg ml(-1)) concentrations of dextran-methylprednisolone succinate (DEX-MPS) and its degradation products methylprednisolone hemisuccinate (MPS) and methylprednisolone (MP). The analytes were detected at 250 nm after resolution using a size exclusion column with a mobile phase of KH2PO4 (10 mM): acetonitrile (3:1) and a flow rate of 1 ml min(-1).

Effect of Salts on the Micellization, Clouding, and Solubilization Behavior of Pluronic F127 Solutions.

We have examined the effect of NaCl, Na(2)SO(4), Na(3)PO(4), and NaSCN on F127 solutions; properties examined were critical micellization temperature (cmt), cloud point, and solubilization of a model hydrophobic drug, propyl paraben. Static light scattering showed that the first three salts lower the cmt of F127 in the order Na(3)PO(4)>Na(2)SO(4)>NaCl. The extent of lowering depends on the salt concentration and can be ascribed to the water structure-making properties of these salts.

A Study of the Temperature-Dependent Micellization of Pluronic F127.

We have examined the temperature-dependent micellization of the pharmaceutically important PEO-PPO-PEO copolymer, Pluronic F127, using static light scattering and various aspects of the pyrene fluorescence spectrum (monomer intensity, excimer formation and the I1/I3 ratio). All techniques gave essentially the same value for the critical micellization temperatures (cmt) of various F127 solutions, and our results agreed with those reported in the literature. Cmt values decrease with increasing F127 concentration.

Cardiovascular effects of the beta-carboline FG 7142 in borderline hypertensive rats.

The hypothesis that acute and chronic administration of the benzodiazepine inverse agonist FG 7142 (N-methyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxamide) produces cardiovascular changes similar to those seen during acute and chronic episodes of stress was studied using conscious, unrestrained borderline hypertensive rats (BHR). Chronic intraperitoneal administration of FG 7142 (10 mg/kg; 5 days/week for 8 weeks) failed to alter resting mean arterial pressure or heart rate compared to maturation and vehicle controls. However, chronic administration of FG 7142 prevented the hypertension associated with a high salt diet.

Pharmacoepidemiology of urinary tract infections in Iowa Medicaid patients in urban long-term-care facilities.

Objective: To describe the therapeutic management of Medicaid patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs) in urban long-term-care facilities (LTCFs) and to link individual therapies to patient outcomes.

Design: Retrospective review of medical records in LTCFs of patients who had documented UTIs.

Methods: Patient data were collected from 17 LTCFs in the Des Moines, IA, metropolitan area during a 1-year period starting January 1, 1995.

Enantioselective distribution of verapamil and norverapamil into human and rat erythrocytes: the role of plasma protein binding.

In this in vitro study, the distribution of the enantiomers of verapamil (VER) and its active metabolite, norverapamil (NOR), into the red blood cells (RBCs) of humans and rats was investigated using a chiral liquid chromatographic assay. When plasma was replaced with buffer, the distribution of VER and NOR enantiomers into both human and rat RBCs was substantial (RBC:blood concentration ratios, 1.39-1.

Effects of storage and homogenization methods on the hepatic recovery of dextrans determined by size-exclusion chromatography.

The effects of storage and homogenization methods on the analytical recovery of dextran macromolecules from rat livers were investigated using a high-performance size-exclusion chromatographic (HPSEC) method. Livers were collected from rats dosed with fluorescein-labeled dextrans with molecular weights of 150 or 70 kD. Subsequently, the livers were subjected to different methods to study the effects of the following parameters on the hepatic recovery of dextrans: storage method (freezing the livers before homogenization or freezing the homogenates); contents of the homogenization buffer (addition of 1% Triton X-100); and sample type (HPSEC analysis of the whole homogenate or the supernatant after centrifugation).

Meta-analysis of parenteral clindamycin dosing regimens.

Objective: We used meta-analysis to compare clinical cure and success rates for parenteral clindamycin 600 mg q8h or 900 mg q8h therapy to treat adult intraabdominal or female pelvic infections.

Data Sources: We located English-language articles describing clindamycin use in humans using MEDLINE, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and Embase and from personal and drug information center files, plus all article references.

Study Selection: Eligible studies used parenteral clindamycin 600 mg q8h or 900 mg q8h to treat intraabdominal or pelvic infection in at least 1 arm of a study and provided a definition of clinical outcome.

Dose dependency of the kinetics of dextrans in rats: effects of molecular weight.

The effects of dose on the serum and tissue kinetics of high and low molecular weight (M(r)) dextrans were studied in rats. Single intravenous (iv) doses of 1, 25, or 100 mg of fluorescein-labeled dextrans with average M(r) of approximately 4 kD (FD-4) or 150 kD (FD-150) per kilogram of body weight were administered to rats, and serum, urine, and various tissues were collected over time. The samples were analyzed by a sensitive and specific chromatographic method.

Input rate-dependent stereoselective pharmacokinetics. Experimental evidence in verapamil-infused isolated rat livers.

The input rate dependency of verapamil (VER) kinetics was studied in single-pass isolated rat livers perfused with a Krebs-bicarbonate buffer solution, containing albumin and red blood cells, at a flow rate of 15 ml/min. Racemic VER was infused at a constant rate of approximately 50 (low dose, N = 5) or approximately 100 (high dose, N = 5) micrograms/min through the inlet catheter (portal vein). Inlet and outlet samples were taken periodically over 90 min.

Enantioselective kinetics of verapamil and norverapamil in isolated perfused rat livers.

The kinetics of the individual enantiomers of verapamil (VER) and its metabolite, norverapamil (NOR), were studied in isolated perfused rat livers (IPRLs) after administration of racemic drug or the preformed metabolite. After constant infusion of 20 micrograms/min of racemic VER to single-pass IPRLs, the hepatic availabilities (F) of the enantiomers were low (S-VER, 0.069 +/- 0.

Assessment of methods and outcomes: using modified inpatient ciprofloxacin criteria in community-based drug use evaluation.

Objective: To determine if published drug use evaluation (DUE) criteria for inpatients could be modified to describe and evaluate drug therapy in outpatients.

Design: Retrospective review of drug profiles and diagnostic codes in outpatients included in the Iowa Medicaid Management Information System database.

Methods: Criteria specifying clinical indication, process indicators, complications, and outcomes were modified from existing inpatient DUE criteria for ciprofloxacin.

Vascular responsiveness in the unstressed borderline hypertensive rat.

This study compares vascular responses of unstressed borderline hypertensive rats (BHR) to age-matched Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Rings of thoracic aorta were mounted for isometric force determinations in tissue baths. Cumulative additions of phenylephrine (PE) or serotonin (5-HT) produced contractile responses in BHR aorta that were less than WKY but greater than SHR.

Effect of pharmacists on health care outcomes in hospitalized patients.

The cost-effectiveness of pharmacists and their effect on inpatient health care outcomes were evaluated. For one year, data were collected on all patients receiving care from general medicine and general surgery teams at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C.

Crossover comparison of drug information online database vendors: Dialog and MEDLARS.

Objective: To compare Dialog EMBASE with the National Library of Medicine's (NLM's) MEDLARS MEDLINE, TOXLINE, and TOXLIT to evaluate differences among the databases and vendors in a method consistent with routine drug information practice.

Design: Crossover comparison.

Methods: NLM MEDLARS databases MEDLINE, TOXLINE, and TOXLIT were searched directly.

Pharmacokinetics of 70-kilodalton fluorescein-dextran in experimental diabetes mellitus.

The pharmacokinetics of fluorescein-labeled dextran with a MW of 70,000 (FD-70) were studied after i.v. injection of single 5-mg/kg doses to control (C), untreated diabetic (D) and insulin-treated diabetic rats.

Putative mechanisms of buspirone-induced antinociception in the rat.

Intraperitoneal administration of the serotonin 5-HT1A agonist, buspirone (1-5 mg/kg), produced dose- and time-related core hypothermia that was coincident with analgesia against a thermally noxious stimulus. Surface body temperature was not altered by buspirone. The 5-HT1A antagonist, NAN-190 (2 mg/kg, s.

Receptor mediation of 5-HT-induced inflammation and nociception in rats.

In light of evidence suggesting the proinflammatory and nociceptive action of peripheral serotonin (5-HT), the present study examined dose-dependent parameters of edema and algesia produced by intraplantar injections of 5-HT and the role of heterogeneous 5-HT receptors in these 5-HT-induced responses. Intraplantar 5-HT (0.05, 0.

Analgesic effects of S and R isomers of the novel 5-HT3 receptor antagonists ADR-851 and ADR-882 in rats.

The present study examined analgesia produced by S and R isomers of the novel 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, ADR-851 and ADR-882 (0.1-10 mg/kg s.c.

Analgesic profile of centrally administered 2-methylserotonin against acute pain in rats.

The present study examined patterns of analgesia by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.

Apparent stereoselectivity in propafenone uptake by human and rat erythrocytes.

The distribution of propafenone (PPF) enantiomers between the plasma and red blood cells (RBCs) was investigated using human and rat blood. In separate experiments, effects of incubation time (15-60 min), blood concentration (100-5000 ng ml-1), and plasma proteins on the RBC uptake of the enantiomers were studied. In both humans and rats, the distribution of propafenone enantiomers into RBCs was rapid, extensive, and stereoselective.

Effect of experimental diabetes mellitus on the pharmacokinetics of atenolol enantiomers in rats.

The effect of streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus on the pharmacokinetics of the enantiomers of atenolol (AT) was investigated in rats 3 and 9 days after induction of the disease. Occurrence of diabetes was confirmed by a significant increase (p less than 0.05) in the serum glucose concentration (mg%) of the diabetic rats compared with their respective controls in both 3- (441 +/- 66.